Transversal - Meaning and Examples

Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 08:03:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Deany Wood
Subject: Help

I have a 7th grade student who would like to know the meaning and examples  
of "transversal".  This is for a math project that is due by November 21, 1994.
More math questions from other 7th graders will likely be coming soon.
Thanks for your help.
Deany Wood
Librarian
AAKingston Middle School
Potsdam, NY 13676

Date: Thu, 17 Nov 1994 10:35:05 -0500 (EST)
From: Dr. Ethan
Subject: Re: Help

Hi, 
        There are a couple of ways that the word transversal is used but all I
can think of right now is a geometrical example.  In geometry any line that
crosses other lines can be called a transversal.  There are however a couple
of interesting examples.  One is with a transversal and a couple of parallel
lines.

                         /l3
                        /
        _______________/_______
          l2          /2
                     /
        ____________/_________
         l1        /4
                  /

In this picture, l3 is the transversal of two parallel lines, l1 and l2.
This transversal yields many interesting pairs of angles based upon the
nature of parallel lines. One example is that the angles marked 2 and 4
are equal.  There are many other interesting things that can be done just 
with this example, all of which would be contained in any standard 
geometry text.

        Ethan, Doctor ON Call